The president is finally fulfilling an important campaign promise - to get his daughters a new puppy now that his campaign is over.

WASHINGTON (CNN)- The frenzy over the First Dog is finally over. The Obamas are welcoming a Portuguese water dog to the White House that Sasha and Malia have named "Bo," according to two Democratic sources familiar with the secretive process.

The sources confirmed an account in Sunday's Washington Post that Sen. Edward Kennedy, who has three Portuguese water dogs, played a critical role in lining up the pup.

The puppy is set to be officially unveiled to the world on Tuesday after the Obamas host their first White House Easter egg roll on Monday.

soundoff(228 Responses)

Alex Koury

Weak. Of everything that is happening in the world today and there has to be a blurb about the Obamas finally making a decision on a dog? Kind of a long time to be making a silly decision over a dog. I'm sure there are more important issues.

April 12, 2009 11:16 am at 11:16 am |

Marie

Haha, I know a guy named Bo, wonder what he'll think of that?
I'm all for rescuing shelter dogs, but I also know that it would be hard to find a particular breed. And given the rarity of Portugeuse Water Dogs, I imagine they don't have their own rescue set up, let alone with puppies. If everyone is so pissed they didn't get a dog from a shelter, why don't *you* go get a dog from a shelter, since the Obama's didn't? Doesn't that solve the problem? Dog gets happy home, you're no longer pissed off. Ta-da.
I've got a shelter dog, an American Pit Bull Terrier, and she's the best dog we've ever had. We've also got two Rat Terriers that we got as puppies from breeders 4 and 9 years ago. *Just thought I'd throw that out there so I'm not blasted for not having a shelter dog myself*

April 12, 2009 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

Dee

Shame, shame – anyone can get a purebred – that is what keeps those puppy mills going! I thought the waiting was for a likely candidate from a shelter, another promise that could not be fulfilled I guess. There was no need dad to keep the girls waiting if that is what you were going to do – shame, shame and I had such high hopes! What a disappointment – politics at its best!
Unoriginal way of adopting a dog, unoriginal name. Hopefully he gets a little more creative with solving our other issues, otherwise don't see a second term for him.

April 12, 2009 11:19 am at 11:19 am |

susan

I voted for Obama and have supported him, but I am angry about
this. They could have saved the lives of thousands of innocent animals by adopting from a rescue group, and the idiotic comment
on here about how they didn't need to adopt "someone elses problem" from a shelter just shows how ignorant people are about
shelter and rescue dogs. I and most of my friends all have adopted
from shelters and have wonderful, well adjusted dogs to show for
it. The Obama's have now added to the completely ignorant view
that you cannot get the dog you want from rescue. I guarantee that
the Obamas could have gotten the breed they wanted from a rescue
group. A rescue also knows the personality of the dog and could
have matched that.

I am not sure I can continue to defend the Obama's to my conservative
friends that dislike them so much. They have now proven to me that
they are no better than any other politician. All talk and then a bunch
of excuses when they don't follow through.

Shame on the President and First Lady. They are just like
the Bushes and all the rest of the phony politicians.

April 12, 2009 11:19 am at 11:19 am |

Jessica

President Obama said he was going to get a "mutt like me". What happened to that? What happened to rescuing a shelter dog? He lied, plain and simple. He did not do the right thing and he lied to all of us. He could have helped save hundreds of thousands of shelter dogs by adopting one himself but instead they will be euthanized b/c people will now be out buying PWDs. Way to go Mr. President! Nice thing to teach your kids and all of our kids.

April 12, 2009 11:19 am at 11:19 am |

Katie

I agree with two-faced. Obama is supposed to be for "Green", yet he flies all over the country holding town hall meetings. What happened to all the technology to hold video town hall meetings? O right, he did that 1 time.
He is supposed to be middle class, yet his girls go to the best private school in D.C. (elitist).

How much does HE pay for his suits and shoes???? Or do the taxpayers pay?

And now a pedigree dog. Yes, Portugese water dogs are supposed to be a great family dog, but so are shelter dogs. My family has allergies and we had a shelter dog. You can rationalize ANYTHING!!!
Wake up America, he is a politician and will tell you anything you want to hear!!! Stop making accuses for him just because he is the first black American President!

April 12, 2009 11:19 am at 11:19 am |

Jo Lynn

Oh Goody! Now that they've negotiated finding a dog, maybe they could find a way to free the Captain from the pirates.
Perhaps now, they could use their spare time finding a church. We need God's presence in the White House.

April 12, 2009 11:20 am at 11:20 am |

Jake

Some of you will complain about ANYTHING!

I just have to ask... How is the view from that high horse you're sitting on?

April 12, 2009 11:20 am at 11:20 am |

alvino

Until the dog is house trained, the initials B & O will stand for Bill O'Reilly. You have to admit Bill-O is a turd.

April 12, 2009 11:21 am at 11:21 am |

alvino

Too bad wi cannot fix the mess that Bush made with a pooper scooper.

April 12, 2009 11:21 am at 11:21 am |

Pirate Pete

I am sure the Captain of that U.S. freighter in Somalia (currently being held captive by pirates) is very happy to hear about Obama's priorities... Obama needs to stop his week long "assessment of the situation" and do something more important than his photo-op doggy. And if he pays a ransom, it is open season on taking American's hostage!

April 12, 2009 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

Can't stand him

"Just for the record Obama haters. Fox news has the story too"

Yeah no kidding, Fox is fair and balanced unlike this liberal only media outlet. To CNN Obama can do no harm.

Who cares about his friggin dog, his airtime during American Idol and his chuckles about the state of the economy on Leno. Be a President, one that leads, not a showboat for trolls and lemmings.

And for the record, I'm not arrogant, Obama only speaks for himself.

DOWN WITH O!

April 12, 2009 11:25 am at 11:25 am |

Brenda

To all the people talking about the dog being a "campaign" promise. The promise was to the girls not the American people. Geez o pete you people are ridiculous. Malia has allergies. Yes you can get dogs from shelters that are hypoallergenic but they decided on this particular breed. IAnyone has the right, whether President or the guy next door to pick the type of dog they want. Get a life!

April 12, 2009 11:31 am at 11:31 am |

Karen

Y'all do realize that shelters often label animals that come in as X breed because they look to have that breed in them. That does not mean that they really are that breed. I am a huge shelter supporter and not real happy about breeding...or specifically irresponsible breeding. But to think you would be able to find a pure bred of the breeds that are shown to be ok for many allergic people, a puppy no less (shelter animals often require some *extensive* work with the family to adapt and get over old fears) at a shelter, is mostly a fantasy. Even breed rescues, I have noticed have animals that have *some* of that breed in them. People need to get over it now.

April 12, 2009 11:33 am at 11:33 am |

Judy

CNN didn't report the whole story. The Obama's gave a very generous donation to the DC pound since they couldn't find a suitable pound dog for their daughter's allergies.

April 12, 2009 11:35 am at 11:35 am |

Had It

It's no wonder this country is in trouble. It's populated with a bunch of whining people that want to dictate the type of pet another person gets to spend 24 hours a day with.

Get a life, you haters.

April 12, 2009 11:35 am at 11:35 am |

Penny harris

People want to run their lives and other people's lives.
Because the Obamas are in the White House doesn't mean that they cannot do something, or make decisions in their own personal lives. All the people that are complaining about dogs from the pound, because you are sooooooo good and great, why don't you adopt many dogs from the pound?
You want to rule every aspect of the Obamas lives, what is wrong with people?

April 12, 2009 11:38 am at 11:38 am |

AustHall

Why do you losers care so much about where the Obama family received their family dog from? If you want to make a difference in the lives of shelter dogs, then I suggest that each of you idiots adopt two or three of them yourselves.

GET A GRIP

April 12, 2009 11:39 am at 11:39 am |

Honey

Too bad the hate is free-flowing during this holy week. The posters who have made comments about the Obama's not going to church or the necessit y of finding a church would do well to sweep around their own front door first - in other words make sure your own soul is right. Church attendance alone assures no one of entering the pearly gates. No matter what you think of President Obama, he is a devoted father and any responsible parent puts the health, safety and well being of their children first, vice a misunderstood statement about the desire to adopt from a shelter. Malia's allergies precluded the President from adopting a dog from a shelter. Remember, you become what you think. Peace and blessings to all.

April 12, 2009 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

Mira

one of obama's girls is allergic to dogs. there is only a couple breeds that were under possible consideration , one of them was portuguese water dog. how many p.w.d.' you can find in a shelter? none,

senator kennedy gave bo to the girls and obama accepted it — good for him ; a friendship over politics , bravo.
good luck with doggie, sasha and malia.

April 12, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

Keith in Austin

I am so sick of the Media's syrupy and groupy-like attention to this President. Who cares about his new dog or Michelle's fashion sense!

Wake up America. This guy is a slick talking blowhard spewing a lot of lies!

April 12, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |

C W

I'm glad they've been able to settle on a dog – I'm sure the girls are thrilled!

Several people in my family have allergies to animals, too, which triggers everything from nasal congestion to full-blown asthma. Getting a dog that won't trigger Melia's allergies is an important and genuine concern. Better for the Obamas to do their research and get a dog that works than get one, only to have to adopt it out later. They made the right decision.

April 12, 2009 11:48 am at 11:48 am |

Ellen in Florida

Praise be, one more campaign promise fulfilled. Go Barak!!

April 12, 2009 11:51 am at 11:51 am |

Fitz in Texas

One would have hoped the Obama's would have at least kept one promise. Rescue a dog from a shelter is what we were told. This to me is very upsetting. Thousands of wonderful dogs are put to sleep each year. There are thousands of backyard breeders and the living conditions for these animals are horrible. There are also breeders that breed the poor females over and over and over again just to make a buck. I certainly understand being allergic to a dog and there are rescues (poodle rescue for one) that have dogs that would be perfect for someone with an allergic problem regarding dogs.

Maybe the Obama's should have watched the Oprah show the day she did the story on puppy mills.

April 12, 2009 11:51 am at 11:51 am |

DS

Lot of children dying in Africa. Lot of people suffering this economic mess, and who really cares about what kind of dog someone is getting. Unbelievable!!